For the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic, resort operators and establishments Barangays Punta Taytay, Pahanocoy, Alangilan, and Granada that cater to tourists have heed the request of the local government to temporarily suspend their operations for a day come June 24, the feast day of St. John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista).
This was after Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and other officials of Emergency Operations Center (EOC) held consultation meetings with them on June 18 and 19, discussing the efforts of the city government to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Bacolod.
Leonardia also issued Executive Order (EO) No. 32, series of 2021, on June 19, which suspends the public celebration of the Feast of St. John the Baptist in Bacolod.
Under the EO, any form of festivities, excursions, picnics, revelries and other similar activities are ordered suspended on June 24.
Among these establishments are beach resorts, mountain resorts, bars, restaurants, and coffee shops.
“This is a big boost to our efforts to contain the spread of the virus because we cannot afford to have the thousands of people who usually flock the beaches of Bacolod during the San Juan fiesta,” said Leonardia after his Friday meeting with the business owners at the Punta Taytay gym.
Leonardia, together with Familiaran and EOC officials, also discussed the measures to control the crowd expected to flock these establishments on June 24.
“We also thank the resort and kapehan owners in the Alangilan and Granada areas for agreeing to close their businesses on June 24,” said Leonardia.
Leonadia shared the COVID-19 situationer in Bacolod with the attendees and encouraged them to comply with minimum health protocols such as proper wearing of face masks and face shields; observing physical distancing of at least one meter, as well as observing curfew hours (10 PM to 4 AM) and the total ban on public consumption of liquor.
“June 24 is the feast of San Juan which usually gathers big crowds in these locations and this is what we want to avoid at a time like this. We continue to appeal for everybody’s cooperation in order to contain this deadly virus,” the mayor said.
The traditional water splashing during “San Juan” is also prohibited under the EO.
This is to protect “public health snd safety” by preventing the “unwanted spread and indiscriminate contagion” of COVID-19.
Last April, the same business establishments in the four barangays had agreed to close on Easter Sunday so as not to attract crowds from gathering in one place.
